Valve



Patented Aug, 3, 1948 VALVE .lohn N. Gladden, Glendale, Calif., assignor to Gladden Products Division of Los Angeles Turi Club, inc., Glendale, Calii., a corporation of California Application Aufrst 23, 1943, Serial No. 499,617

schim. l

'My invention relates to fluid-control valves and, more particularly, to a novel valve insert made wholly or in part of a molded plastic material.

The preferred embodiment of the valve includes a valve body with a ported chamber in which the valve insert or seat structure is removably inserted through a suitable opening, which is later closed in whole or in part by a, cap or other closure means. Such a valve is often used alone or in conjunction with other valves for the control oi hydraulic equipment on an aircraft; and will be particularly exemplified with reference to the control of the cowl flaps of an airplane.

It has previously been proposed to associater the valve insert with the closure means in a unitary manner, the entire structure 'being formed of metal and being sealed with respect to thevalve body by employment of suitable packing rings. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a valve insert or seat structure separate from the closure means.

.The previously-proposed unitary structure comprises an element dimcult and costly to manufacture as it' requires a multitude of machining operations and entails diilicult assembly steps for installing a valve member resiliently engaging a seat of the unitary structure. It: is an object of the present invention to provide a simple easily manufactured, quantity-producible valve insert overcoming these dimcuities.

I lhave found it possible to use one or more valve elements formed of molded plastic material for the accurate control of fluid flow. In

the preferred embodiment, both the valve seat and the4 face of the valve member cooperating therewith are molded-plastic-material surfaces.-

Tests have shown that these-surfaces can be accurately molded and require no further ma.- chining, lapping, grinding, etc., and, further, that a plastic-material valve insert is very dependable in operation over long periods of time and can lbe used to control the flow of extremelyhigh-pressure fluids. The surfaces are not su-bject to corrosion and offer a. slight amount of resiliency very idesirable in insuring accurate seating of the valve member.,

It is an object of the present invention to provide a valve having one or more valve elements formed of molded plastic material and preferably providing a valve surface formed during the molding operation.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide relatively movable members respectively providvand face come 2 ing a valve seat and a, cooperating valve face, thev seat or the vface, or both, being formed of molded plastic material and the relative movement of the members being such that the seat into pressural engagement through substantially longitudinal motion, as .distinct from a, rotary motion.

It is -also an object of the present invention to provide a valve member and a seat member combined,'if desired, with a guide member, one

or all of such members being formed of molded plastic material.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a two-element insert or seat structure for a valve and to provide a simplified means for sealing the insert or seat structure with respect to the surrounding body and an operat- -ing'member for the valve.

Other objects lie in the provision oi novelly formed cagelike elements, such as a seat member and a guide member, of such shape as to permit molding or die-casting thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will 'be evident to those skilled in the .art

from the following description of exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a dual valve assembly incorporating the preferred iiivalvemember of Figure 5.

to deliver high-pressure iluid from a pressureV line I6 to a, pipe i1 to advance the piston il and rod I2 rightward and, when in another position, to discharge iluid from, the vpipe I'I to one portion of the return pipe I8 of the hydraulic system, thus permitting leftward movement of the piston by fluid supplied to the right-hand side thereof by valve mechanism not shown in detail.

The valve structure I provides a valve body 23 providing chambers 2| and 2|', each respectively having openings 22 and 22' communicating with one side of the valve body 2|). A suitable closure means closes at least partially each of the openings 22 and 22'. As shown in Figure 1, an externally-threaded recessed head or plug 23 completely closes the chamber 2|, while a similar recessed head fitting 24 closes the chamber 2l', except for a passage 25 provided by a threaded nipple 26 connected by a fitting 21 to the pipe I1 in a manner well known in the art.

Removably positioned in the chamber 2l is an insert or seat structure 33 forming a first valve element, and a valve member 3| forming a second valve element. Such first and second valve ,elements cooperate in controlling the flow of the fluid, as will be hereinafter described.

The seat structure 38 is best shown in Figures l and 2 and comprises two cage-like insert elements hereinafter referred to, by way of explanation of the particular valve shown, as a seat member 32 and a guide member 33 adapted for assembly to form the ilrst valve element of the preferred embodiment of the invention. As best shown in Figure 1, the chamber 2| provides an outer or enlarged portion 34 for the reception ofrecess 36 into which a portion of the seat member 32 extends.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention,

the valve member 3|, the seat member 32, and the guide member 33 are each formed of molded plastic material. By the term molded plastic material, I have reference to any of the thermoplastic or thermosetting plastics or resinous products formed by compression or injection molding and having properties similar to any of the various phenol condensation products, such, for example, as Bakelite A general-purpose plastic material or a shock-resistant plastic material can be employed in this connection, and a wide variety of mol'dable plastic materials is available. I have found Bakelite to be very satisfactory in the valve construction shown, although it should be clear that any of the various modern plastic materials can be employed with various degrees of success.

The seat member 32 is formed entirelyof such plastic material, molded ln the shape best shown at the bottom of Figure 2. It includes a lower ring 38 dimensioned for insertion in the recess 36 and providing an opening 39. Integral with and extending from the periphery of the lower ring 38 are four arms 40 spaced from each other to define a cage-like structure and to provide uid-conducting spaces therebetween. The lower extremities of the arms 40 terminate intermediate the upper and lower faces of the lower ring 38 to provide a stop means limiting the movement of the ring 38 into the recess 36. The upper extremities of these arms are molded integrally with, and depend from, the lower surface of an upper ring 4|, dimensioned externally to form a sliding nt in the inner portion 33 of the chamber 2|. The inner surfaces of opposed arms 44 are separated by a. distance substantially equal t0 the 'external diameter of the lower ring 38,

and the outer surfaces of such arms are separated by a distance less than the diameter ci the inner portion 35 of the chamber 2| so as to vprovide a peripheral chamber 42, best shown in Figure l.

The upper ring 4| cooperates with a reduceddiameter neck 43 molded integrally therewith in defining a tubular portion of the seat member 32 providing a fluid-conducting passage 44 aligned with, but larger in diameter than, the opening 33. At the junction of the ring 4| and the reduced-diameter neck 43 is a radial shoulder 44a. A valve seat 45, preferably bevelled inward to be of frusto-conical shape, is provided at the extremity of the neck 43 and is preferably formed in the molding operation.

The guide member 33 is also molded integrally and includes a lower ring 46 of substantially the same external diameter as the upper ring 4| of the seat member 32 so that it can extend a distance into the inner portion 35 of the chamber 2|, as shown in Figure l. The inner diameter of the lower ring 43 is such as to telescope with the neck 43. Four arms 41 integrally connect:

the lower ring 4S with an upper ring 4l dlmen` sioned for sliding insertion in the outer portion 34 of the chamber 2|. The inner diameter of the upper ring 48 is substantially the same as the external diameter of the lower ring 43 so that the outer faces of the arms 41 comprise, in eiect, extensions of the outer periphery of the lower ring 46 and are substantially in alignment with the inner periphery, indicated at 43. of the upper ring 48. These arms 41 are spaced from each other to define a cage-like structure andto provide fluid-conducting spaces therebetween. The inner surfaces of the arms 41 may be flat or maybe segments of`a circle concentric with the axis of the upper ring 48. Such inner surfaces are spaced from each other to bound a guide passage extending toward the valve seat 45 and to provide guide surfaces for guiding the valve member 3| in its longitudinal movement toward and away from the seat 45. When the valve member 3| is disposed in the guide passage, arcuate passages 50. are provided between the inner periphery 43 and the outer periphery of the valve member 3|, these arcuate passages traversing the upper ring 48 between the arms 41.

The distance between the inner surfaces of opposed arms 41 ls also slightly less than the inner diameter of the lower ring 4B, whereby the bottom of each arm 41 extends into the space within the lower ring 4B to dene a. stop shoulder 5| forming a stop means limiting the degree to which the seat member 32 and the guide member 33 may telescope. This stop means is engaged by the upper end of the neck 43 and is so disposed as to leave an annular groove 52 between the lower end face of the lower ring 43 and th'c radial shoulder 44a of the seat member 32. A sealing means is disposed in this annular groove 52, preferably a doughnut-like sealing ring I4 formed oi' rubber or other resilient material, andadapted to form a tight seal between the outer and inner portions 34 and 35 of the chamber 2l by pressural engagement with a wall of the portion 35. As shown, the annular groove 52 is preferably of a width greater than the sealing ring 54 but. if desired, it may be made of such width as to compress and expand the sealing ring.

The valve member 3| comprises an integrally molded member having a cylindrical body portion 58 with a molded tapering or conical face 60 adapted for engagement with the seat 43 to conprovides an integral head 6| of somewhat smaller Y diameter. As best shown in Figure l, a compression spring 62 slips over and is centered by this head 6| and extends in the recess of the removable head or plug 23. This spring urges the valve member 3| into resilient engagement with the seat A5. The slope of the conical face to may be equal to, greater than, or less than the slope of the mating valve seat t5. make these slopes slightly different, as shown in Figure 1, thus providing for substantially line contact rather than surface contact between the face Gil and the seat-d5.

The valve member 3| is displaced from the seat l5 to vopen the valve by pressure exerted through an operating member, shown as a plunger di. The upper end of this plunger is rounded to engage a recessedlower surface of the valve member 3i. The plunger passes through the opening 3o of the lower ring 38 and is thus journalled in its longitudinal movement. It extends also through an opening 6l of the valve body 2li into a chamber tt provided by a cover 69, being actuated by rotation of a cam lll integral with a shaft 7| extending from the cover 69 and through a panel l2. This shaft 1| is provided with a suitable knob or handle means 'F3 for manual turning of the cam.

In assembling the valve, a sealing means, such as a small rubber sealing ring iii, is disposed in the recess 3d. The seat member 32 and the guide member 33 are then inserted, either separately or together. with the sealing ring 56 in place. A suitable sealing means in the form of a gasket or sealing ring il is then inserted and the plug 23 is screwed tightly in place. This compresses the ring il to form a tight seal between the guide member 33 and the plug 23 and valve body 20. Such movement of the plug 23 may also be utilized to compress the sealing ring t if this ring is suitably dimensioned to be deformed when the seat member 32 and the guide member 33 are telescoped to a imsition determined by the stop means. The lowermost ends of the arms dll provide stop means for limiting the inward movement of the seat member 32 and, when this stop means engages the bottom wall of the chamber 2l, the sealing ring 15 will be'compressed to form n multi-purpose seal. In the first place, this sealing ring will effectively seal the seat member t2 and the valve body 20. It is also dimensioned to be compressed around and in sealing relationship with' the plunger 65, while permitting sliding motion of this plunger under the action of the compression spring 62.

The valve insert in the adjacent chamber 2|' may be formed identically with that previously described and is indicated by corresponding primed numbers. The compression spring l82' in this instance provides turns spaced from each other so that fluid may flow thereth'rough into and from the passage 25.

The arrangement of the two adjacent valves is such that one opens when the other closes and the cam 'Ill is designed with this in view. This cam provides a cam surface 80 having two diametrically opposed high spots 8| and two diametrically opposed low spots 82, as best shown in Figure 3; The axis of the shaft 1| is displaced from a line'joining the plungers 65 and 65' so that the plungers 65 and 85' engage the cam sur- I prefer to f' i'ace l0 at quadrant 6 l positions. Correspondingly, and as shown in Figure l, when the plunger II is on one of the high spots 8|, the plunger engages one of the low spots 82. and vice versa.

When the valve structure is in the position shown in Figure l, high-pressure fluid flows from the pressure line I8 into the circular space around the arms 41, thence between these arms i and between the now-separated valve face 60 and the valve seat 45. It then advances internally along the passage 44 through the neck I3, and the outer ring 4| and discharges betweexr, the ar-ms Minto the peripheral chamber |52. The valve body 2lik provides an angled passage lo which conducts this fluid to the circular space around the arms 41 of the other now-closed valve unit, whence it ows through the passage 25 and the pipe I1, as indicated by the arrow 88, to the left-hand cylinder of the servomotor to advance the piston Il rightward. When the cam 10 is rotated through the valve member 3| will move by the actionofspring 62 into engagement with the seat d5 to close oil further flow of iiuid from the pressure line i8. At the same time, the valve member 3| will be lifted from the seat |35' to open communication from the left-hand cylinder of the servomotor to the return line I8, the fluid flowing from the servomotor in the direction indicated by arrow 81 between the now-separated valve Gil' and v alve seat |15', thence through the seat member 32' to discharge between the arms thereof into the return line It.

For purpose of clarity, I have shown in detail the fluid supply only for the left-hand cylinder of the servomotor. The .right-hand cylinder thereof is conventionally controlled by pressure applied to and discharged from the right-hand side of the piston il through a pipe S0 corresponding to the pipe l1. The actuating fluid flowing through the pipe 90 is best controlled by va valve structure substantially identicalwith the .valve structure l5 and operated by the same cam l0, the arrangement being such that, when fiuid is supplied to one side of the piston, it is discharging from the other side, and vice versa. The manner of operating both valve structures from the same cam is suggested in Figure 3 and involves disposing corresponding plungers of the other valve structure in. sliding engagement with the cam surface 80 at points indicated respectively by dotted lines and 95'.

While I prefer to design the seat structure 3d so as to comprise two units, namely, the seat member 32 and the guide member 33, it is within the contemplation of the invention that these members should be formed` integrally. Such aconstruction is suggested in Figure 4, in which a and provides a chamber including an outer-.por-

tion il! andan inner portion H3, respectively communicating with the ports ||ll and Ill. The insert or seat structure comprises unitarily formed guide and seat members H5 and IIS,

shouldered to provide a valve seat which, if

desired, may be relatively sharp or which can be of conical form similar to that `previously described. The guide member H5 provides a plurality of peripheral openings |20 for communication between the port |I and the zone above the valve seat ||1, while the seat member H6 provides similar openings |2| for communication between the interior of this seat member and the discharge port lli. Sealing rings are provided, as previously described.

In Figures and 6, the valve member is indicated by the numeral |25 and is guided in a cylindrical guide passage of the guide member ||5, being urged resiliently downward by a spring |26 fitting in a depression |21 of the valve member. To prevent a piston action and to provide open communications between the upper and lower ends of the valve member |25, suitable flats |30 are formed thereon to permit flow of fluid transverse of the valve member during movement thereof. This valve member |25 provides a conical valve face I3| similar to that previously described, and is slightly recessed at its lower end to receive a plunger |32 bearing against a cam |33, as previously described.

In Figure 5, the valve is normally closed by the action of the spring |28. When opened, uid may flow from the port i I0 through the openings |2, thence between the valve face |3| and the valve seat I1, being discharged through openings |`2| to the discharge port lil. The type of valve insert shown in Figure 5 can be employed in the embodiments of Figure l or it can be used merely as a single now-control valve.

In all of the embodiments thus far described, the valve elements are formed of molded plastic material. This has been found particularly desirable, not only as expediting and decreasing the cost of production but also in formingvalve elements capable of prolonged use under adverse conditions, even in the control of extremely highpressure fluids. The type of valve construction shown is particularly applicable to the employment of molded-plastic-material valve elements. The valve member 3|, for example, does not rotate in pressural contact with the seat 45, thus eliminating any tendency toward peripheral grooving and avoiding excess pressures which might be applied if the valve member .were advanced by means turning in and threaded. with respect to the valve body 20 or associated structure. Inthe preferred embodiment of the invention. the spring 62 limits the pressural force between the valve member and the seat member to a value which will not injure the molded sur-A faces. This spring acts as a biasing means tending to exert, a maximum predetermined pressure between the `valve member and the seat member,

this pressure being sufficient to insure a fluidtight seal .in the zone of engagement but insufcient to crush or permanently substantially deform the molded-plastic-material surfaces.

While it is preferred that the entire valve lnsert, including the valve member and the seat structure, be formed of molded plastic material, the invention comprehends also either that only one of these elements may be formed of plastic material or that one or both of the contacting surfaces of the valve shall be formed of molded plastic material, whether the entire supporting structure for such surfaces is formed of plastic material or metal. Further, it is believed that the insert structure of the invention is novel irrespective of whether it is formed of plastic material or of metal. In the latter instance, and

particularly if the elements are formed as suggested in Figure 2, they .can be produced cheaply and in quantity by a metal die-casting process. In other instances, metal die castings can be employed with a minimum of machining operations.

The embodiments herein illustrated are by way of example and not by way of undue limitation. Various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from these exemplary showings and can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as dei'lned in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve insert member formed entirely of molded plastic material and comprising a ring providing an end surface, a plurality of arms 4molded integrally with said ring and extending substantially parallel to each other from said end 'surface of said ring, and a second ring of larger diameter than the first-named ring and providing internal and external peripheral surfaces, said arms being molded integrally with the said internal peripheral surface of said second ring and extending radially inwardly therefrom.

2. A valve seat mem-ber formed entirely of molded plastic material and comprising a tubular portion providing end faces lying in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tubular portion, one end face providing an annular molded-surface valve seat, a pluraliy of arms molded integrally with said tubular portion and extending from the other end face in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, and an end member molded integrally with said arms at the extremities thereof, said arms traversing and extending outward from a portion of the periphery of said end member and said arms being spaced from each other to dene fluid-conducting spaces therebetween.

3. In a valve, the combination of a seat structure including a valve seat member having a valve seat. and including a guide means, said valve seat member including a tubular portion having said valve seat on one side thereof and having a plurality 'of longtudinalporting arms extending from the other side thereof, the guide means comprising a plurality of longitudinal guide arms cooperating in defining a guide passage extending toward said valve seat member on the same side l thereof as said seat, said guide arms being circumferentially spaced from each other to dene a fluid-conducting space longitudinally through said' guide means and radially therefrom; .and a valve member having a cylindrical side Wall dimensioned for longitudinal movement in said guide passage toward and away from said valve seat and in engagement with said arms, said valve member having a valve face adapted to engage said valve seat.

4. In a, valve, the combination of: a valve seat member having a tubular engaging portion and a neck portion of lesser external diameter extending therefrom with a valve seat at the end of said neck portion; guide means including a tubular member having a major bore adapted to telescopeover said neck portion and a minor bore of lesser diameter than said major bore and forming an annular shoulder therebetween, said shoulder being adapted to engage said end of said neck portion to provide an external annular -groove having side walls between the end of said tubular member and said tubular engaging portion; annular sealing means in said grooveysaid sealing means being of a size such that there is clearance between said sealing means and said side walls; and a valve than said tubular member longitudinally movable in said guide means and guided thereby, said valve member having a valve face adapted to engage said valve seat.

.5. In a valve, the combination of: a valve seat member having a tubular engaging portion and a neck portion of lesser external diameter extendi, ing therefrom with a valve seat at the end of said neck portion; guide means including a tubular memberhaving a bore adaptedto telescope over said neck portion, and having a plurality of oircumferentially spaced longitudinal arms extending from said tubular member, said arms providing a longitudinal guideway therein. at least one of said arms projecting radially inwardly into the line of said bore to forma shoulder adapted to seat on said end of said neck portion: and a valve member longitudinally movable in said guideway and guided thereby, said valve member having a valve face adapted to engage said valve seat.

. 6. In a valve, the combination of: a valve seat member having a tubular engaging portion and a neck portion of lesser external diameter extending therefrom with a valve seat at the end ot said neck portion; guide means including a tubular member havingI a bore adapted to telescope over said neck portion, and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal arms extending from said tubular member, said arms providing a longitudinal guideway therein, at least one of said arms proiecting radially inwardly into the line of said bore to form a'shoulder adapted to seat on said end of said neck portion; an annular ring member disposed at the top of said arms, said ring member having an external diameter greater member; and a valve member longitudinally movable in said guideway and guided thereby. said valve member having a valve face adapted to engage said valve seat.

7. In a valve, the combination of: a valve seat member having a tubular engaging portion and a neck portion of lesser external diameter extending therefrom with a valve seat at the end of said neck portion, said valve seat member also having a plurality of longitudinal porting arms extending from said tubular portion deilning a iluidconducting space therebetween; guide means including a tubular member having a bore adapted to telescope over said neck portion, and having a i plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal lo 10 arms extending arms ,providing a longitudinal guideway therein, at least one of said arms projecting radially inwardly into the line of said bore to form a shoulder adapted to seat on said end of said neck portion; and a valve member longitudinally movable in said guideway and guided thereby, said valve member having a valve yi'ace adapted to engage said valve seat. l

8. A valve insert member comprising a iirst ring providing an end surface, a plurality of arms formed integrally with said ring and extending substantially parallel to each other from'said end surface of said ring. and 'a second ring of larger diameter than said ilrst ring and providing in'- temal and external peripheral surfaces.'said arms being formed integrally with said internal peripheral surface of said second ring and extending radially inwardly therefrom.

9.- A valve seat member comprising a tubular portion providing end faces lying in planes substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said tubular portion, one end face providing an annularvalve seat, a pluralityof arms formed integrally. with said tubular portion and extending from the other end face in a direction substantially parallel to said-longitudinal axis, and an e'nd member formed integrally with said arms at the extremities thereof. said arms traversing and extending outward from a portion of the periphery of said end member and said arms being spaced from eachother to deilne huid-conducting spaces therebetween.

JOHN N.-, GIADDEN.

REFERENCES v(BITED The iollowing references are of record in the v ille of this patent:

. UNITED yS'lZ'A'I'EB PATENTS Number Name f Date 250,687 Kennedy Dec. 31, 1881 383,941 ll'risbie Jan. 5, 1886 1,041,287 .Budlong Oct. 1li, 1912 l 1,088,909 Langsdorii' July 9, 1913 2,019,257 Gibbs Oct. 29, 1935 2,089,297 Abercrombie Feb. 2, 1937 l 2,198,120 Parker Apr. 2, 1940 2,294,702 van Der Werl? Sept. 1, 1942 2,295,774 Corydon Sept. 15, 1942 fromsaid tubulary member, said 

